LifeMatrix Technologies AG

Globally, one out of 100 children is born with a heart defect. In severe cases, a heart valve or blood vessel functions poorly or may be missing. Such congenital heart defects are commonly treated today by replacing the missing or damaged tissue with synthetic prosthetic materials. These artificial materials need to be replaced regularly as the child grows, thus requiring repeated surgery and lifelong medical treatment.

During their time at Wyss Zurich, the LifeMatrix team developed a unique tissue engineered technology to grow replacement tissue in the laboratory that is compatible with every patient and that regenerates and grows with the recipient. Human-derived cells are grown on a scaffold in the shape of a heart valve or blood vessel. In a process called decellularization, the cells are removed, leaving behind a biologically neutral human tissue matrix called LifeMatrix™. After implantation, the recipient’s own cells repopulate the LifeMatrix™, replacing the biodegradable scaffold and creating tissue that will grow with the child. Such grafts, that can regenerate and grow with the patient, could avoid repeated major surgery and its associated risks.